Paula Canora wins the third prize 'Logicalis Innovation Challenge'

Ramon Machuca

The Final Degree project consists of the design of a cheaper and lighter prototype of an EMG device, this electronic instrument measures the electrical activity of the muscles and nerves, as the prize winner states, it is “expensive” and “heavy”. Canora says in an interview published by the Ingeniery school  from the URJC that the objective of this research was “to reduce the price and weight so that more students could use it in class, or to take it to developing countries.”

Paula Canora also presented her final degree project to the second edition of the technological and sustainable innovation awards 'Logicalis Innovation Challenge', winning the third prize and obtaining a grant of €3500. The jury of the event highlighted that: “This initiative not only benefits educational institutions, but could also support non-profit organizations by improving the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases.”

The biomedical engineer was also the winner of the Health and Wellbeing category of the SDG awards because “my project can help bring EMG devices to areas in precarious situations.” This fits within the nature of these awards granted by the vice-rector for quality and strategy and the vice-rector for postgraduate studies since the 3rd objective of the SDGs indicates that it is important to achieve universal health coverage.

The tutors of this project and professors in the area of ​​Electronics and Physiology respectively, Antonio Consoli and Francisco Suárez, consider that it is a “professional milestone for our student, and, therefore, for the Rey Juan Carlos University.” They also affirm that this recognition "is a sign for our students that the TFG are not simply jobs to finish the degree, but are the seed of a promising professional future in development."

The creator of the prototype is currently finishing the Master in Robotics and Automation at UC3M, and working as a research assistant in the robotics laboratories. In the future, “I would like to continue working in robotics, especially in the development of prostheses or exoskeletons,” adds Canora.